Truth. I have never been more grateful for the warmth under my skin.
“I want to escape from here,” I admit, feeling winded like I’m teetering on the edge of a precipice. “When I was caught with . . . with Enat . . . we were on our way to the castle for two reasons. First, to tell the high lord who the real murderer is. And second, to break the spell on the king.” I explain everything we know about a bind on the king and the war.
When I finish, Leif’s brows are drawn together.
I glance over the top of the bowl as I eat the terrible-tasting mush. “I know it sounds mad, but if what you say is true, that I can trust you, then you must trust me as well.”
He blows out a breath. “I’ve had some suspicions about the king’s behavior and recent orders. This is just a lot to take in. Do you know who’s controlling the king?”
“I think so,” I say, purposefully evasive. Once Leif finds out about the captain, I fear his loyalty will stand in the way of him believing me. Or at the very least, it’ll keep him from helping me escape.
“Tell me. If I’m going to help you, I need to know my enemy.”
I don’t want to tell him. Though he’s right, he needs to know. “It’s the captain,” I say quickly, spitting it out before I talk myself out of it. “He killed my father and is likely working with the Spiriter controlling the king.”
Leif pulls back to look me in the eyes, his expression full of shock and doubt as his hands wrap firmly around my shoulders. “You’re certain?”
I tell him about the Archtraitor, the murder at the tavern, the witnesses, and the captain’s coat. Leif rocks back on his heels.
“You believe me?” I hold the bowl in my lap, unable to finish the last half. A herd of elk could be thundering through me for how my heart beats with hope.
“Yes, I believe you,” he says. “So if the captain is truly controlling the king, it’s my duty as the king’s guard to protect him, which means I must do what I can to break the bind.”
I’m so relieved by his answer, I could kiss him.
“I have a plan,” I say. “And it requires my death.”
Chapter
38
LEIF RETURNS A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER WITH Enat’s leather pouch.
“Where’s the boiled water?” I ask Leif after he pushes the pouch through the iron rungs.
His eyes cut to the side. “By the door,” he whispers, and then darts back, his face shifting into a stoic mask a moment before a guard approaches from the depths of the dungeon.
A scowl shows through the guard’s greasy beard. “What are you doing here, Leif?”
“Just checking the prisoner,” Leif says coolly.
The guard turns and, after noticing me, presses his bulging belly up against the bars of my cell. “So what, you hunted down the scrant and now you get special privileges?”
“If by privileges you mean I have to smell her rotting carcass when I throw dinner at her feet, then yes.” Leif chuckles and makes another comment about how disgusting I am. It’s slightly mortifying to hear, even if it’s an act.
The guard must have accepted Leif’s excuse because he leaves after muttering a few more unsavory comments. I’m relieved to watch him go.
“Sorry about that.” Leif returns with the cup. “I, uh, didn’t want him to think I was showing you any kindness.”
“Are we clear? No more guards will be coming down here?”
“Only Jorgan, the guard who was just here, and the dungeon master. If your diversion works, they’ll both be occupied and you’ll have your escape if you wake in time.”
The promise sounds bittersweet.
“The body bearers usually come at night. I—?I’m nervous for you. Have you tried making this herbal brew before? What if you don’t wake till tomorrow?”
I press my lips together. The day in the forest when I found out I was a Spiriter, Enat had me gather these leaves. While we were traveling, she said if they’re crushed and steeped in water with bark-gnarl grindings, they make a sleeping concoction. There are so many ways this plan could fail. “Enat said the effects only last a couple hours. Once I drink the tea and it takes effect, my heart will slow, and I’ll look dead. You’ll have to move fast. I don’t want it to wear off before the dungeon master has taken me out of here.”
I sort through Enat’s pouch and find the leaves, grind them between my fingers, and then drop the pieces into the liquid. I have no idea if I used the right amount. For all I know, too little might not do the trick and too much could kill me. I pray it works. It’s the only way to get out of this dungeon.
“Where will I wake?”
“There’s an area at the far end of the dungeon where the corpses are placed until the bearers come. They’ll put you there. I would have the guards take you elsewhere, but that would be suspicious. I promise I won’t let the bearers take you away.”